Skip to content
  • Epic Quest
  • Contact Me!
  • About Me
Instagram YouTube Facebook
Menu

Writer. Traveler. Tea Drinker.

Writer. Traveler. Tea Drinker. Doing all three in China
Instagram YouTube Facebook
  • Epic Quest
  • Contact Me!
  • About Me
Hit enter to search or esc to close
Home  >  China • Chinese Culture  >  Qingming–or Tomb Sweeping–Day
Posted inChina Chinese Culture

Qingming–or Tomb Sweeping–Day

Posted By Becky Ances Posted on April 5, 2010
Please install Travelera Share Buttons plugin


While everyone in the west is celebrating spring, rebirth and chocolate bunnies we are celebrating something entirely different here in China: Death. Today is Qingming Day, or Tomb Sweeping Day.
When I first signed my contract it listed all the holidays I would have off: Spring Festival, Mid-Autumn Festival, National Day, Dragon Boat Day (still curious about that one) and Tomb Sweeping Day.
Easter and Qingming Day do have some things in common; the date they fall is based on the spring equinox. Easter is the Sunday after the first full moon after the equinox (which is why the date changes every year). Qingming falls 2 weeks after the equinox. It just so happens that this year they fall at the same time.
There are also other similarities. In ancient China the holiday was used as a celebration of spring. The name Qingming literally translates to “clear brightness” meaning the arrival of the warm sun. As a celebration of the new growth they would dye eggs and break them open 9sound familiar?). The emperor would plant trees in honor of the coming spring.
Nowadays though, it is less about spring and more about remembering your ancestors. You are suppose to literally sweep the tombs of your ancestors, remove any growing weeds and make the whole thing look nice. Then you pray, make offering of food, and burn paper money. Basically, Qingming is a day to show respect to your ancestors.
But getting outside and enjoying the spring is another reason to celebrate the day and since ancient times, flying kites on Qingming day is a tradition. For several weekends the weather has been great and dozens of kites have dotted the skies all over campus and downtown. (And as the weeks continue many kites are now dotting the tops of trees after getting hopelessly tangled.)
Qingming also makes an important day for tea connoisseurs. Green tea (and Dragon Well tea in particular) leaves that are picked before the holiday are considered the finest (and priced accordingly). Tea made before today will be marked as “Pre-Qingming” as the first leaves of spring are said to have a lighter and more subtle flavor.
Happy Qingming Day!
Photo Credit

Tags: culture holidays Qingming tomb sweeping day
Previous Article Granite State of Mind
Next Article What is Your Definition of Success?

Related Posts

What School is Like in China Right Now (Fall 2020)

We are a month into the fall 2020 semester, so I thought I’d give a little update on what the teaching situation is like. Masks? Alternate day in-class attendance? Social distancing on campus and a mix of classroom and online learning? Well….no. None of that. If you were beamed to

Read More about What School is Like in China Right Now (Fall 2020)
Please install Travelera Share Buttons plugin

I Won “Favorite Teacher!”

College has started and students have come back to school after being gone for 6 months, so I wasn’t surprised when a few students contacted me to ask if I was still on campus. But I was surprised when they said they wanted to see me and give me flowers.

Read More about I Won “Favorite Teacher!”
Please install Travelera Share Buttons plugin

Leave a Reply

Cancel reply

Recent Posts

  • What School is Like in China Right Now (Fall 2020)
  • I Won “Favorite Teacher!”
  • I Entered a Puzzle Competition! (You can make fun of me all you want.)
  • What is the Situation in China Like Now?
  • Painting a Chinese Dragon

Archives

Categories

Meta

  • Log in
  • Entries feed
  • Comments feed
  • WordPress.org

Recent Posts

  • What School is Like in China Right Now (Fall 2020) Becky Ances October 9, 2020
  • I Won “Favorite Teacher!” Becky Ances September 21, 2020
  • I Entered a Puzzle Competition! (You can make fun of me all you want.) Becky Ances September 10, 2020
  • Popular
  • Recent
  • The Swiss Family Robinson are a Bunch of Jerks December 11, 2009
  • Making it Official: My Chinese Boyfriend December 7, 2012
  • Good Chinese Wife Review and a Chance to Win a Free Book!! July 27, 2014
  • 10 Signs You've Lived in China a Long Time March 29, 2014
  • What School is Like in China Right Now (Fall 2020) October 9, 2020
  • I Won “Favorite Teacher!” September 21, 2020
  • I Entered a Puzzle Competition! (You can make fun of me all you want.) September 10, 2020
  • What is the Situation in China Like Now? July 30, 2020

Subscribe Now to Our Newsletter, It’s Free!

Get the best content delivered straight into your inbox!

Facebook Twitter Google+

About

I’m an American who has been living in China for more than a decade! This is my blog where I muse about all things China. Please also check out my YouTube channel “Badminton Becky” and my other badminton blog at www.badmintonbecky.com

Social Media

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Google+
  • Instagram
  • YouTube

Recent Posts

  • What School is Like in China Right Now (Fall 2020) October 9, 2020
  • I Won “Favorite Teacher!” September 21, 2020
  • I Entered a Puzzle Competition! (You can make fun of me all you want.) September 10, 2020
© Copyright 2017. Theme by BloomPixel.